Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, a renowned communication scholar, journalist and former public official, has died at the age of 85.
Sobowale died on Thursday morning, October 8, 2026, according to a statement issued by Akinniyi Sowunmi, a member of his family.
Sowunmi announced the death in a statement titled “Transition to Glory”, describing it as a major loss to Nigeria’s communication community, particularly the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals in Nigeria (ACSPN).
“This is a very sad day for us in the Communication Community in Nigeria and especially for us at the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals in Nigeria. Our father, Pa Deacon Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, OON, 85, joined the saints triumphant this morning, October 8, 2026,” the statement said.
The family said details of Sobowale’s funeral rites would be announced later.
Sobowale was widely recognised for his contributions to journalism education, communication scholarship and professional journalism in Nigeria.
He taught at the University of Lagos and later became a professor of journalism at Lagos State University, where he served as the pioneer dean of the School of Communication from 2004 to 2007.
He was particularly associated with the introduction of precision journalism and opinion polling to Nigerian journalism.
After returning from Syracuse University in the United States with a PhD in 1978, he established a public opinion polling desk at The Punch, contributing to the development of data-driven journalism in the country.
Born on January 4, 1941, in Ashipa near Abeokuta, Ogun State, Sobowale did not enter formal education until he was 13.
He later studied mass communication at the University of Lagos before proceeding to Syracuse University, where he specialised in precision or scientific journalism.
His career also extended into public service.
He served as special adviser on education to the administration of former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande and later became Commissioner for Education under Bola Tinubu between 1999 and 2003.
For his contributions to national development, Sobowale was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2006.
